Wednesday, May 30, 2012

I made a goal to see more concerts this year and so far I've been sticking to it. Monday I had the opportunity to see Santigold and Charli XCX at In the Venue. The concert was everything you'd expect. Sweaty, smelly, and full of energy.

Charli XCX was actually really good. She has a really energetic and surprisingly sexual energy about her. I went home and looked her up so that's always a good sign. I'm gonna assume you guys already know the awesomeness that is Santigold and share one of Charli's songs I liked most instead.

End of the World:

So yeah, all in all it was a great show. Santigold sang a lot of songs and her backup singers/dancers were amazing. Her music is perfect for live shows since all you want to do is jump around and sing along. Instead of doing it in my house by myself, I got to do it with a group of people. Who can ask for more?

Also, pretty sure that first photo is proof of Santigold's divinity. Just saying.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

When I get interested in something I tend to research it endlessly. This means I've been reading a lot of blogs lately that are fitness/health oriented.

As soon as I decided I wanted to change my diet, I started scouring the web for paleo/primal food blogs. When I started to run at the gym, I found myself watching videos about proper running form and looking for inspiration everywhere. I'm such a slow runner that it's easy to get discouraged and want to quit, but I don't want to be that person. Reading about other people's struggles can make all the difference sometimes and it's nice to feel solidarity with other people.

There's also a downside to reading a lot of blogs that focus on health and weightloss though. Far too many of these blogs have serious negative overtones when talking about their past "fat" selves. While I think everyone should have the body they want, this can really put a damper on my day. A person's value has nothing to do with their fatness and I've often found myself getting defensive in a way that was kind of surprising.

I'm not going to pretend I know any more about life than anyone else, but what I do know is this: love is not conditional. If you need to lose ten more pounds before you can really love your body, well that's not love in my eyes. Loosing weight will not make a person more comfortable in their own body by default. It may make it a lot easier for some, but pant size doesn't indicate self confidence. I wear a size 20. TWENTY. And you know what? I love my body. I rock the shit out of cute ass dresses and am constantly amazed by the things my body can do. We tend to forget all the amazing things we do everyday with our bodies. Just the very act of walking or having pupils that can contract is something to celebrate. And thumbs. What would we ever do without them?

I'm not saying people shouldn't want to lose wight or that there won't be days when we feel bad about our bodies. Highs and lows are a fact of life and people have the right to think some types of bodies are more desirable than others. I'm just tired of fatness being equated with unattractiveness or laziness. My "fat days" are filled with more health and love than a lot of thin people's. So please stop projecting your body insecurities onto me. Cause I'm sexy and chubby man. And that's okay.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

“Sometimes, loving your body is not an option. Sometimes, the best we can do is accept our bodies as the changeable, beautiful, frustrating vessels they are. That’s OK. Expecting yourself to have a full-on love affair with your body at all times is asking too much. Bodies are occasionally annoying. What we can do is know them, and decide for ourselves when they feel good, and when they feel less good, and what we might do to make them feel better again. Even if we can’t love our bodies, we can make sure we don’t hate them.”

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Welcome

My name is Alana and this is my blog.

I started Sunshine and Bones when I decided I needed a place for creative content. I am still figuring out exactly what direction I want to go in with this blog, but as of now I talk about food, music, movies, books, and crafts the most.

Book Rating System

10. One of the best books I have ever read and you’re crazy if you don’t run out and get the book immediately
9. Damn near perfection
8. Excellent – some laughing and/or crying involved
7. Very good
6. Good, but might not be for everyone
5. Blah – essentially neutral
4. Bad, but for some reason I still needed to know what happens in the end
3. Horrible, barely readable
2. One of the worst books I have ever read
1. Should be included in Dante’s seventh circle of hell for violence against art
0. Didn't finish

Ratings 6-10 are in the golden circle and are recommended without reservation.